WATCH PARTY: Serpico (1973) directed by Sidney Lumet @ Pretlow Library

I feel like insane, early-70s Pacino is the best Pacino. (And I haven't even seen this one, but man, Dog Day Afternoon? Godfather I and II? My guy was murdering it in that decade.) Plus it's the director of Network, so it's like two insanely awesome people for the price of one.

RUNTIME: 129 minutes

SYNOPSIS: Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) is an idealistic New York City cop who refuses to take bribes, unlike the rest of the force. His actions get Frank shunned by the other officers, and often placed in dangerous situations by his partners. When his superiors ignore Frank's accusations of corruption, he decides to go public with the allegations. Although this causes the Knapp Commission to investigate his claims, Frank has also placed a target on himself. The film is based on a true story.

BLURBS:
"Film-making guts and glory are on display from director Sidney Lumet, star Al Pacino and many others in this compelling New York crime drama from 1973. Pacino gives one of the most complex, densely achieved performances of his career." - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

"A remarkable record of one man's rebellion against the sort of sleaziness and second-rateness that has affected so much American life, from the ingredients of its hamburgers to the ethics of its civil servants and politicians." - Vincent Camby, The New York Times

"A virtuoso performance by Al Pacino and some expert location work by Sidney Lumet add up to a tour de force genre piece that transcends the supercop conventions to create a moving, engrossing portrait of Frank Serpico." - Don Drucker, Chicago Reader